Heat-treating apparatus



p E. A. FURKERT 2,407,230

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Ot. 27, 1941 .6 Sheets-Sheet l 1*- 1 1946- E. A. FURKERT HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed 001:. 27, 1941 6 Sheets-Shet 2 1|]! lllllll ll 5 P 1945.v E. A. FURKERT $407,230 v HEAT TREATING APPARATUS l 1945- E. A. FURK ERT HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed 051;. 27, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 10;1'946. E, A URKE T v 2,407,230

HEAT TREATING" APPARATUS Filed 001;. 27, 1941 6 Shgets-Sheet 5 P 10, 1946' ,E; A. FURKERT 2,407,230

HEAT TREATING APPARATUS Filed Oct, 27, 1941 a Sheets-Sheet e Patented Sept. 10, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT-TREATING APPARATUS Ernst Albert Furkert, Chicagmllll Application October 27, 1941 Serial Nd. 4166l- 3 Claims.

This "invention: relates to improvements heat treetingeippetatiisone objeet at the invention is to provide im pteved heat treating eppeieitus adapted for use in heat treeting metal ettieles with desired unifotni-ity during-hardening onetetions.

Another object of the invention is to provide retery heating enperattis for finiteimy heatin to the teqiiired temperature-s stationery metal erti'ei'es wee hardened;

Ah add-itien-al ole-jeet of the invention is to provide improved means for: immersing heated ertieles e, siiiteble bath automaticall when the esiti'eles' have been: heated te apredetermined tefii-pef'etn e; e

Aidditicinel ot'ieets of" the invention relate to vettioi'ls feartilfes-of eonsttuetien and arrangement of enable the improvements to be uti iizettedveiitegeeusI iniheeting articles of diffie-rent dime sions and sizes, iii pesitieni'ng the ertieies' ate ate-1y predetermined heating ositi'ri, end moving-the heted elrtieles expeditieiisiy'to the ce-eIi-ng teeth; as wen sis meving the immersed artistes within the bath, eii or which objeets etiiciothets will be apparent from a consideretion of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a Side elevation of apparatus emheating the present iniprevemehts Fig: 2 is et'op 1:31am view of the apparatusshetvii-iri Fig; 1

Fig. 3 is e seetidheti view teken'on line 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged seetieiiai View taken (in line 4 ''4 OfF'ig 3;:

5 is" e treitei-iseetienel view taken on line 5 5 e'i Fig. 1

Fig; 6 is an emerged sectienel View" taken on line G G dfFig'. 5:

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line T-I- ofFig 5;

Fig. 8 ise se'etioneti View taken on Tine 8GB efFigat;

Fig; 9' is a seetien taken line es ef'i 'i .8;

Fig; 10 is eii-ier' e'd ten'pien" View of one of tiietiitiierse'r toiehes' which supply heat to" the er tieie te be heated: p I

Fig"; 1-1 is an enlarged seetienei View taken on line I t] ef Fig. and H is an eIevet-ien, partiafly diagrammatic,

maticall In i-l-liistii'etive embodiment of th invention forming e part or the supporting frame structure of the machine and iiidieated g eneieil by the 7 is epereble by a meter it which ma be attached to" the" supporting frame structure oi the machine. A geseeus fuel is supplied to the tu'bifler sheiit II by means of any appropriate i e eIement such the ss'tetieneiry pipe l8 having a gas; tight coupling IB connects the same to the u per end: at sne'tt H, and other elements con stitu'ting a" gas line by meansof which the gas from a; suitable soufee is c'tiiidiited to the 1101* low shaft;- The present improvements are de-- signed for utilizing either natural or ertifieiei illuminating gas suitably mixed with air e mixinje a paratus, net shewn in the drawings, from which t is eenduetedi as-bif the' iflip r9 to a motor veive 2e;- te a; tire 21', and thence to the pipe r8 referred to above; When the machine is in: oifieiation; the motorverve 2|] will be open to admit the fuel tn the heating apparatus, but when the-meter valve cre's'e by a switch he're inefte'r' referred to; a reduced quantit of gas is by eessed amend the ifeive throu' h pipes 21, 22 and 23 to maintaina' flame at the burners here inefter described.

lower end of the shaft H is provided with a;- piiifeiity of branches 24, four Being shown in Fig". 2, which trenches Communicate with an annular nienifeld 25 which constitlites e part of the reterystruetnre ef the nie ehiz e. From the manifold: the gas flo'wsinto a. slurality o'f burners or tern-hes indiated' generafly bythe numeral {6. The terehes which are directed radially inwardly of'the' rete-ry structure are provided with nezzies 21 at their inner ends which eoiii-mu'mcate with fieX-iBle tubes 28. The tubes 2a in turn communicete with the manifolds by means of suitable pine connections as shown in Fig. 11 comprising elbow 29; regulating tel-ire 30 and conduit Sections" 31. It will thus be seen that gas from the inani= iol'dmay new to the burner nozzles while the manifold end burners are retetin Each of the nozzles, as shown in Fig. 10, at teched tea horizontal red or arm; 32 by means" of a, suitable clam 33. The rod 32 is a djustably secured to a bracket" 34 which is secured to and de ends item the menitoid 2 5, in the form of Each of the rods 32 is carried between a pair of cooperating cieimn piates' 35 and 36 which are aidiust'ehiy secured together by m ans of screws 31. Upon loosening" the screws 31, the rod can be slid forwardly" of ree-rwerdl'y or turned angulerly abent' the" axis of the rod and reclamped in the desired pesitien by tightening th screws. brackets 31 are shown as provided with slots 38 tl'iroli gfh catch of which projects a tightening sei'ew' 39*.foi securing thenietes 35 and 36' i'n vertically adjusted position to the bracket 34. Hence, the nozzles can be adjusted arcuately about the aXis of the respective rods 32; they can be moved inwardly or outwardly by the sliding movement of the rod mentioned above, and they can be moved vertically by sliding the clamp plates 34 and 35 along the brackets 34; the fiexible ducts 28 permitting such adjustments.

As illustrated in the drawings, the nozzles aredirected radially inwardly of the rotary structure for directing flames upon an article to be heated which is located in a position disposedalong the 1 axis of rotation of the rotary structure. While the improvements herein disclosed are adapted" to enter the axial opening 44 of a gear 44 to be treated as shown in Fig. 9. Where gears having different size openings are to be treated, appropriate supporting members 43 fitting such openings are employed. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the piston 4| is designed to be operated by compressed air, and for this purpose, a conduit 45 is shown extending to the bottom of the cylinder 42, while a conduit 46 extends to the upper end of the cylinder. A suitable valve 41 is provided whereby air delivered thereto by a conduit 48 may be directed to the conduit 45 for elevating the piston, the rod 4|! and a gear thereon, or the air may be directed through conduit 46 for 10W? ering the piston, the rod 40 and the gear thereon. The valve may be of any suitable type and is shown as being provided with a manually operable handle 49 for controlling the operation of the piston, although as described hereinafter additional means preferably are provided for operating the valve in controlling the descent of the piston. The cylinder 42, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is located beneath an end portion of a tank 50 which is supplied with oil or other appropriate cooling liquid into which a heated gear is immersed for hardening the same.

The shaft 40 extends upwardly through a suitably packed opening in the tank 50 and through the liquid, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and projects at its upper end substantially into the horizontal plane of the nozzles 21 for supporting a gear 44 in heating position when the piston i in the uppermost position, as illustrated in the above-mentioned figures. Upon descent of th piston to its lowermost position, a gear 44 carried by the shaft 4|! -is drawn downwardly into the cooling bath. When the piston has been retracted to its lowermost position, the gear supporting member 43 is disposed in the dotted line position shown in Fig, 8. The shaft 40 extends through a gear receiving member which is positioned within the tank 59. Such a receiving member is indicated generally by the numeral 5|, and in the form illustrated is of grid-like formation constructed of bars 52. The member 5| is pivotally supported adjacent the forward portion thereof on a rockshaft or the like 53 whereby it can be tilted clockwise to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. Normally, the gear receiving member 5| is in the 4 horizontal position shown in full lines in Fi 8, and is supported in that horizontal position by legs 54 which contact the bottom portion of the tank. The bars 52 are located sufliciently close together to arrest the downward descent of a gear as the latter is lowered by the piston and thus remove it from the gear support member 43. Such a removed gear is indicated at 44 in Fig. 8.

Suitable means are provided for tilting the gear receiving member 5| to cause the same to slide therefrom onto an inclined rack 55 also located in the tank, as shown in Fig. 8. Such tilting means may be in the form of a structure comprising a pair of bell-crank levers 56 each having a short arm located adjacent the shaft 40 for engagement by the gear supporting member 43 as the latter moves downwardly through the member 5| to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8. As the member 43 engages the ends of the short arms of the levers 56, the longer arms thereof are moved clockwise to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8, and in so moving, engage a pair of bars 52 of member 5| and tilt the latter to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 8 and thus cause an arrested gear in the position indicated at 44 to slide from the member 5| onto and downwardly along the inclined rack 55 to the lower upturned portion 55 thereof where it is arrested and remains until removed from the bath. As indicated by the positions 44 and 44 of the gear, it will thus be seen that when a gear has been heated to the proper temperature, operation of the valve 4! will admit air under pressure through conduit 45 to the cylinder 42 above the piston, and the.

gear will be moved quickly into the bath and will be freed from the gear carrying member 43 by,

reason of the descent of the latter to a position beneath the gear receiving member 5|, whereupon, due to the tilting action of the member 5|, the gear will be moved by gravity laterally or to the right, as shown in Fig. 8, to the lowermost portion of the rack 55. Hence a hot gear, by reason of its movement within the bath, is cooled quickly since it does not remain in its original arrested position in the cooling liquid and comes to rest within the liquid adjacentan end of the tank from which it can be removed by an attendant.

Air under pressure may be supplied to conduit 48 from any suitable source, but in the drawings the duct 48 is shown as being connected to air pressure tank 56 having mounted thereon an air pump 51 operable by a motor 58 which maintains the desired pressure in the tank for the purposes mentioned. I

To facilitate the positioning of gears to be treated upon the gear carrying member 43, as for example, where a number of similar gears are to be hardened, a suitable gear loading member is provided which in the form illustrated comprises a lever 60 pivotally supported on a vertical shaft 6|, which in turn may be journaled in a bearing 62 and provided with anti-friction bearings as shown in Fig. 6. The lever 60 is provided with a manually operable handle 64 whereby the lever may be swung from the full-line position shown in Fig. 5 to the dotted line position and vice versa. The forward end of the lever 60 is provided with a gear supporting head 65 having a recess 65*? of sufficient size to permit passage therethrough of gear carrier members 43. The recess, it will be noted. is open at one side whereby when a gear positioned on the head has been swung clock;

wise to a position over a cylinder 42, and has been removed therefrom by the ,upward movereturned from the dotted line gear delivering, po-

sition shownin Fig. 5 to thefullline or gear loading position thereof.

Two arms, 66 and 61, project radially from the head 65= over the upper surface of an arcuate track 68- which is concentric with reference to the pivotal axis H of the lever 60. The forward ends of the members 66 and 61- preferably are provided with anti-triction members 69- which contact the upper surface of the track 69 for reducing friction during theswinging movements of the lever 60. Such an anti-friction. member is illustrated iii-Fig '2 t thedrawings. V

The head 65 and the adjacent portions or the supporting arms 66 and 61- areprovided' with adjustable gear centering members H1 in the form of slotted barswhich may be secured in property adjusted positions by screws H. The inner ends of the bars 10 can be adjusted about a central point whereby when a gear, such as the gear indicated by the numeral 44" in Fig. is in the position; illustrated and, the. lever 60 is'swung to the. dotted lineposition of said figure, the gear will be engaged by the gear supporting member 43 when the piston 4| is moved: upwardly as above described When gears of larger or smaller diameter than the gears shown in. Fig. 5 are to be treated; the gear locatingbars- Ill are adjusted outwardly or inwardly proper radial distances Itiwilltherefore, be seen that thedistance from the axis El ot the lever 60 to the center of gear 44' is the same as the distance from the axis 6| to the vertical center line of the gear supporting member 43 Suitable means are provided for assuring a proper adjustment of the-bars 10 with reference to a vertical axis which will coincidewi-th the-axis of the member 43- whenthe lever 60 has" been swung to the gear delivering position shown in dotted lines in: Fig 5, Inthe present embodiment ofv the invention such means shown; as comprising a bracket or arm 'IZextending horizontally from a supporting arm 13 which supports the bearing of shaft BI and provided at its outer end with means: for. sl-idably supporting a centering pin- 14 (see Figs. 1, 4 and 9) Means; for slidably supportingthe pin 14 may comprise a; tubularsupport 15' into whicha reduced lowerend M of a pin canbeinserted. Ontheupper end of the pin 14 in Fig; 4" is shown. amember 14 corresponding in. diameter: to the gear opening and similar to the supporting member 43'.

The vertical axis of the member 15 is spaced from the axis 6| a distancecorresponding to the: distance fromthe axis 6|" to the axis: of the gear holder 43-. By sliding the 14 upwardly by means or the lower: projecting endi14' thereofto the dotted line. position shown inFig. t, the-member 14 'will project into the area of the" slot 65 of the arm 60? when the latter is in the loading or full line position shown: inFi'g'. 5-, A set screw 'l4 is shown for:temporarilyretaining the pin 14 in: the elevated position. The gear or one of a group of similar gears: to be treated can then be placed upon the: member M for the purpose oi locating the same in the proper position; the bars 10 being thereupon adjusted into contact with the exterior of the gear for retaining itin such position The pin lo-4 and member 14 can thenbe lowered to a non-ohstructing position beneath the arm: 6i? orca-n" be removed from the member 15. When the lever 60 is swung to the dotted line position, the center opening of the gear will register with the member 43 as the latter is moved upwardly by the piston into engagement with the gear, as shown in. Fig. 9,, for elevating the sameinto the heat zone of the apparatus; When the locating bars or stops '10 have once been properly positioned for handling gears of. a given diameter, such subsequent gears when placed on the head 68 will be properly locatedfor registration with the member 43 when the lever isin the dotted line position of Fig. 5.

In Figs 2 and 3 of the drawings a horizontally disposed tank [6 is shown provided with a tubu lar: coil H therein which is connected to a Source of cold water such as the city water supply for circulating Water therethrough for reducing the temperature of the oil employed in the quenching tank of the apparatus. A pump 18, operable by a motor-19;. draws the oil from the tankv 50 and forces the same through the tank 16 where it is cooledby the coil. and from which it. is. returned to the: quenching tank 50, i L

In Fig. 1 .of the drawings a switch panet -is shown secured to the front of themachine and is: provided with a switch; ill for controlling the op oration oi the. pump 19' whereby the? oil in the tank 50may bemai'ntained at a proper quench:- ing temperature A second switch 82 is shown for controlling the operation of the motor valve 20. Aiswitch 83 also mounted on the panel con trols the operation of the motor 11. The three switches" referred to particularlyare illustrated as of the toggle or'snap on and off type; When the switch 83 is closed the motor [1 operates con timmusly until the switch is turnedto the oil" position A second switch for controlling the motor I1: is. provided which is. a, pring-opening switch; indicated by the numeral 84. When the button of this switch is pressed inwardly, the motor circuit is closed, but when the button is released, the switch is automatically opened. This switch is of convenience in making adjustments of the torches or burner nozzles since by its use the rotary structure can be caused to move a few degrees of are at a time for moving nozzles-- into a. osition at the front of the ma chine. The machine itself can be located with its rear against-or close to a wall, or in a cornor of a: room since it is not necessary for an operator to work: on all sides of the machine in effecting'ad iustmentsz of the burners; An addi tional: switch 85 is shown on: the panel 811 for-controlling: the operation of the air compressor motor 58: This switch may be: of either type abovereferred to, but is shown as being of'a type" simi lar tov the switch 84.

Also positioned on the panel i2 is a temperacure: indicator designated generally by the nu m'eral sea. The indicator is of the controlling pyrometer type: of known. construction. The indicator comprises a. thermocouple 81 adapted to be positioned againsta gear: in the heating posh tion'; as illustratedin Fig. 12; Conductors" Mextend from: the coupi'et'o the instrumentfor effectirrg actuation. oii a hand or pointer 89 which in dicaltes: the changing temperature of the gears during the" heating operation.- A temperature selector hand 90 can be adjusted to a position corresponding to the maximum temperature at" whicha gear: or: gears, are to be heated; when the gearin the heating zone at the selected temperature, as indicated by the hand 89; it will be araliel with the hand so; Inthe present-em bodimeni; oi the invention the" conductors 88 of the couple to extend downwardly from the in dicator B6 on the exterior of the rotary structure, and the couple is held against the gear periph'ery in such a position as not to interfere with the rotation of the burners, nor with the lowering of the gear when the proper temperature has been reached. Any suitable means such as an adjustable arm 9| pivotally mounted on a bracket 92 may be employed for retaining the couple in contact with the gear during the heating Operation. A spring 93 is shown for pressing the couple firmly in contact with the gear. An adjustable stop 94 limits the counterclockwise movement of the couple when the gear has been moved into the quenching fluid. When the next gear is moved into the heating zone, it will move the couple and arm 8| into the position ShOWn in Fig- 12.

The indicator 89 constitutes means for effecting the automatic operation of the valve handle 49 in a direction to lower the gear-into the quenching fluid. When the hand 89 moves into a position parallel with the adjustable temperature selector hand 99, the mechanism of the DV- rometer, by known means not disclosed in the drawings, is arranged to close a circuit switch. In this instance the circuit includes conductors 95 and a solenoid 96. The solenoid is operatively connected to the valve handle 49 and hence moves the same to admit air into conduit 49 and thereby lower the gear into the quenching liquid.

Since an article while being heated in the improved apparatus remains stationary, it need not be firmly attached or clamped to supporting means as in prior apparatus where the articles are rotated and the heat sources are stationary. The article, heated by means of the present improvements, can, therefore, upon acquiring the desired maximum temperature, immediately be immersed in the quenching fluid without additional handling.

In Fig. l of the drawings a gas pilot 9? is shown connected to the conduit 2| forming part of the by-pass around the motor valve 20. The flame issuing from the upper end of the pilot member by its color gives an indication of the character of the admixture of the gas and air being delivered by the gas mixing machine not shown. To a gas port in the lower end of the pilot 91, a flexible tube 98 may be attached, the tube having a burner tip 99 at its outer end. By opening a pet-cock I99, gas will be delivered to the burner tip 99 which may be ignited by the flame issuing from the upper end of the pilot 91 and the tip used as a torch for igniting the burners of the rotary structure.

By means of the present improvements it has been found that articles can be heat treated satisfactorily and expeditiously by utilizing manufactured or natural gaseous fuels of relatively low flame temperatures and with less likelihood of overheating or burning the articles than where more expensive and high flame temperature fuel is employed, such as oxyacetylene gas which generally has been used in prior flame hardening apparatuses. A sufficient number of the burner or torch nozzles 21 can be adjusted to direct flames upon these surfaces of the article that are to be hardened to heat the same to the desired temperature, such burners as are not required in heating a relatively small article, for example, being moved radially outward to inoperative positions, such as the position of the burners indicated by reference characters 2'! in Fig. 3. It will also be seen that where several identical gears are to be hardened, the adjustment of the members 19 to center the gears with respect to the path of movement of the gear supporting member 43, when the loading lever 69 has been swung to the dotted line position of Fig. 5, facilitates the handling of the gears since, during the period that one gear is being heated, the attendant can place another gear in position on the member 65 and can swing that gear inwardly into alignment with the path of member 43 immediately following the quenching of the heated gear. The positioning of the gears in heating position by the means described, as well as the adjustment of the burners, can be effected without an attendant being required to reach into the'heating or flame zone of the machine as will be seen.

While I have shown and described certain emrespect to the orbit of the burners, means for rotating the burners, means for supplying fuel thereto during such rotation, vertically reciprocable means for supporting in said zone an article to be heated, means for reciprocating said supporting means between upper and lower positions, and article transferring means operable from a position remote from said supporting means for receiving an article to be heated and transferring the same into the path of movement of said supporting mean intermediate said upper and lower positions thereof for delivery thereto upon movement of said supporting means from the lower to the upper position.

2'. Heat treating apparatus comprising a plurality of horizontally rotatable burners arranged to project flames upon an article located in a zone disposed centrally of the orbit of the burners, means for rotating the burners, a reciprocable support for engaging an article and elevating the same into said zone, means for actuating said support from a lower position to a position for supporting an article in said zone, and means for delivering an article into the path of movement of said reciprocable support at a level above said lower position for engagement and elevation thereof to said upper position.

3. Heat treating apparatus comprising a, vertically reciprocable shaft provided with an article supporting member on the upper end thereof, means for directing heat upon an article on said support when said shaft is in an elevated position, a horizontal swingable member provided with article holding means spaced from the pivotal axis thereof a distance corresponding to the distance from said axis to the path of movement of said shaft, said swingable member being located at an elevation lower than the uppermost position of said article supporting member and being swingable to a position for locating an article carried thereby coaxially above said article supporting member when the latter is in a lowered position, and means for moving said shaft and supporting member upwardly into engagement with an article in said coaxial'position for elevating the latter into heating relation with respect to said heating means.

ERNST ALBERT FURKERT. 

